Circular knitting machine



May 9, 1961 Filed Jan. 26, 1960 C. H. WAINWRIGHT CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GZ.

May 9, 1961 c. H. WAINWRIGHT CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1960 ago y 1961 c. H. WAlNWRiGHT 2,983,126

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/GG.

y 1961 c. H. WAINWRIGHT 2,983,126

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1961 c. H. WAINWRIGHT 2,983,126

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 9, 1961 c. H. WAINWRIGHT CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheecs- Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 26, 1960 F/G/O.

-v Jam N Ill I Ir 4 F JW zu --nism of the machine. Q In suitable cases the projectionor projections may be :inserted in a trick or tricks of an orthodox needle bed at a position not required to accommodate movements of. needle's or instruments along the tricks but in other cases "in which no such position in the tricks is conveniently available (as in the case of needle cylinders for patterni ng machines having patterning jacks or other instruments U ired States Patent CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Carlyle Herbert Wainwright, Leicester, England, assignor to The Bentley Engineering Company Limited, Leicester, England Filed Jan. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 4,767

Claims priority, application Great Britain Feb. 2, 1959 12 Claims. (Cl. 6654) This invention is for improvements in or relating to circular knitting machines and is concerned with machines of the kind (hereinafter referred to as the kind specified), having independent needles arranged in a circular bed or beds between which and the needle operating cams relative rotation takes place during the opera- 20 tion of the machine. Machines of this kind include machines of the single bed type as well as those having two co-axial needle beds for performance of rib knitting. The invention has for an object to provide a relatively simple and compact means for actuating a needle cam with accurate timing to modify the action of a succession of needles commencing from a particular one in the needle circle.

According to the invention there is provided in or for a knitting machine of the kind specified, cam control mechanism comprising one or more projections adapted to be detachably mounted on a circular needle bed, for example, in a trick or tricks in or associated with said bed so as to project therefrom, a co-operating abutment and a carrier movably mounted on supporting means for the needle operating cams, on which carrier the said abutment is movably mounted to adapt it'to be brought into and out of range of such projection or projections, the parts being so arranged that on movement into said range the abutment will be actuated by engagement with the projection or projections during relative rotation between the needle bed'and cams and thereby move its carrier to actuate a movable cam; The mechanism is thus well needles commencing from a particular one of the needles.

The said carrier may itself support the cam to be actuated but preferably it is coupled adjustably to a support for'such cam to permit adjustment of the extent of cam The'carrier may be arranged to be slidable movement; 7 in a direction along the tricks of the needle bed in which case the said projection or projections may cooperate 'with a backing member, e.g. a ring, to resist movement of the projection or projections, along the trick or tricks when engaging the said abutment.

. In a preferred construction the abutment is pivoted to --the carrier for its movement into and out of range of the said projection or projections. The abutment may be yieldably urged out of range of said projection or projections and be provided with means whereby it is moved into said range at the appropriatetime by control mechawhich together with the needles or needle instruments occupy the major part of the length of the tricks), the projection or projections may be mounted in tricks in a circular flange projecting from the needle bed. Thereby the projections can be accommodated without interference with sliding parts positioned in the bottom of the tricks of the needle bed.

The abutment aforesaid may be actuated and held in its actuated setting by engagement with a succession of projections formed by bits inserted in a succession of tricks over a required extent of the needle circle and released from actuation on disengagement from such bits. Alternatively the abutment may be actuated by a projection or projections defining the commencement of actuation and thereupon latched in actuated setting, being instep and sole parts of the'foot.

afterwards released from actuationby a further projection or projections suitably positioned in a trick oriricks at an appropriate spacing from the first projection or projections. V V 7 The mechanism in accordance with the invention may be used for adjustment of any movable needle controlling cam and has a particularly useful application to the adjustment of a stitch cam to vary the length of stitches drawn thereby. Such adjustment in orderto vary the action of a group of needles extending around part only of the needle circle is particularly useful inconnection with the knitting of foot parts of hosiery. Many articles of mens hosiery have different fabric structures iuthe The differencesin structures may for example be from rib to plain; wide rib to narrow rib; patterned to unpatterned; and particularly from multi-colour and/or links-links patterning in the instep to a plain sole. In such cases the pitch of the courses in the upper part is usually different from that of the bottom part and tends to cause a curved tubular shape to the foot often termed a banana shaped foot. To avoid this disadvantage it is necessary to compensate .for the differences in the fabric structure at the respective parts of the knitted courses by drawing different sized loops in one section as compared with the other, and the present mechanism is adapted to achieve this in a simple and convenient manner.

By way of example the application of the invention to each of the cylinders of an opposed cylinder circular knitting machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein,

, Figure 1 is an elevationview in central cross section of the upper or rib cylinder fitted with the improved.

control mechanism; r

Figures2, '3 and 4 are detailed elevation views of the parts oftthe control mechanism as seen from the left of Fig. 1, showing the parts in difierent positions;

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the bottom or plain cylinder broken away in part; I Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to those of Figs. 2

to 4 illustrating the cam control mechanism of the bottom cylinder;

'- Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view with certain the bottom 0 understood, the machine selected for illustration being a circular knitting machine of the opposed needle cylinder type comprising an upper or rib cylinder 1 (Figs'. 1

parts broken away of the mechanism of Fig. I seen from and 9) and a lower or plain cylinder In (Figs. and In the tricks T of cylinder 1 are mounted the usual sliders 2 and in the tricks T1 of cylinder 1a are mounted bot- 'tom needle sliders 31 distance pieces 30 and rocking jacks i] with which are associated selecting sliders (not shown) in the lower parts of the tricks to co-operate with the patterning mechanism of orthodox type. The machine illustrated is adapted for knitting mens hose, being or- ;ganised for transfer of needles between the top and bottom cylinders for purpose of changing from plain to rib knitting and vice-versa or between different rib formations or links-links patterning. In addition the machine is preferably organised for knitting patterned socks in contrasting colours. The improved control mechanism is applied to the machine for the purpose of adjusting the .stitch cams to vary the length of the knitted loops for .the purpose of effecting what is termed half round slack- ;ening, that is to increase the stitch length of the formed fabric over the sole portion of the foot during the knitting otthe foot portion of a hose, without changing the stitch length of the instep'fabric.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper cam control mechanism is supported by the top cam box assembly comprising a cam box plate 4 on which the cam box 4A is jmounted. Within the cam box plate there is inserted in each trick T of an appropriate group of successive tricks .a small instrument or hit of inverted L shape indicated at 3, see Figs. 1 and 9, later referred to as a slackening bit. The group of slackening bits 3 extends approxi- Imately half way round the cylinder at a level above the "the three walls of the slide way and the face 6 of a ring .7 supported on plate 4. A screwed pin 8 secured to member 5 is shown trapped by a screw 9 in a hole 10, Fig. 2, in a cam block 11. Block 11 carries the stitch .cam 12 and guard cam 13, Figs. 1 and 2. The top end of the carrier 5 carries a shaft 14 to the inner end of which is secured an abutment 15 in the form of a lever (see also Fig. 2); A lever 16 is locked to the other end of the shaft in the relation to projection 15 shown in Fig. 2. A spring 17 is employed to urge the complete slide assembly to its lowest position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the projection'l8rat the top end of member 5 serving :to engage the cam box plate 4 to provide a stop- To slacken the stitch each half course (i.e. raisesthe stitch cam to draw a longer loop) the following events "take place. A cam on the main control drum through the medium of a lever (not shown) initiates tension in ,a' cable19, Fig. 9, whereupon the cable 'pulls, through a safety spring 20, on a peg 21 secured to a ring 22 mounted to turn freely in a peripheral recess in cam box plate 4. Ring 22 is thus partly turned causing movement of lever 16 (of the slide assembly) to the position shown in Fig. 3 from that of Fig. 2 due to its engagement with '-one end of a slot22a in ring 22. This brings the projection 15 into the path ofthe slackening bits 3 previously mentioned. The safetyspn'ng 20 is included in case the control drum is racked whilst the cylinders are stationary in a position in which the slackening bits 3 are already under the :abutment or'slackeninglever 15 as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows the mechanism primed With the bits 3 moving round with the cylinder and about to engage the end 23 of the slackening lever 15. Fig. 4 shows how the slackening bits 3 have forced the slackening lever 15 -into a vertical position, the bits being prevented from moving down in the cylinder tricks because they are supported by. the annular ledge 24 of a backing ring 7, Fig. 1. Therefore as the slackening lever 15 is forced into a vertical position it lifts the complete slide assembly, thus raising the stitch cam 12 and guard cam 13 to lengthen and slacken the knitted loops. The slackening lever 15 will remain in the vertical position whilst the Figs. 2, 3 and 4, on carrier 5 prevents it being brushed completely aside. When the last bit has passed, the slide assembly is returned by the spring 17 and levers 15 and 16 are returned to the position shown in Fig. 2, by the torsion spring 26. The ring 22; Fig. 9, is returned to its initial position as shown in Fig. 9 by a tension spring 57 which draws the ring 22 around until its edge 58 contacts a stop screw 59. As mentioned previously the bits are placed in each trick to form a group extending approximately half way round the cylinder, and every needle having a slackening bit inserted in its trick will be automatically given the slackening movement. Thus slackening is controlled-to start and finish exactly at the correct individual needles.

Means is provided to adjust the amount the stitch cam is raised. This is achieved by unscrewing the screw 9, Figs. 1 and 2, to the requiredextentandthen locking it with the nut shown. As the usual control link 27, Figs. 1 and 9, prevents the block 11 being forced'down by the spring 28 a gap will be created between the screw 9 and the pin 8. Thus when the slide assembly is raised by the lever 15 the pin 8 will not lift the block 11 and stitch cam until it contacts the screw 9 thus raising the cam during onlya portion of its full movement. The usual control link 27, Figs. 1 and 9, is connected at its upper end to the normal known mechanism.

- The principle of the mechanism for slackening the loops of the bottom cylinder needles is the same as that of the top cylinder, but the construction is different due to the fact that the patterning instruments i.e. selectors,

distance piece, rocking jacks are situated in each trick immediately below each slider thus leaving no room in the normal depth ofthe tricks for the slackening bits. This difiiculty is overcome by using a cylinder of the type disclosed in U.S application No. 837,550. Fig. 5 illustrates such a cylinder, in which a flange 29 (also shown in'Fig. 10) having the tricks. extending through it is utilized to house the slackening bits 3 which are inverted as compared with those in the top cylinder. By this arrangement the distance pieces '30 can move freely to 'transmit movement from the patterning mechanism below to the sliders 31' above the slackening bits. The flange also supports the cam box assembly as in US. application No. 837,550 although the invention is not restricted to this arrangement, as the cam box could be supported on pillars from the bottom bed plate orrsuspended from the top plate.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 10 the bits '3 are shown protruding from the flange 29, and they are restricted from up and down movement by a cam box supporting ring .32 and a cam ring 33 which incidentally is relieved locally at the back 34, Fig. 5, to clear the abutment lever 35. As' in the top cylinder arrangement the abutment lever 35 on shaft 36 is acted upon by the bits 3 and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show successivepositions of the parts corresponding to those of Figs-2, 3, and 4. The sequence of events is thus, cable 37, Fig. 10, is tensioned when required by cam and lever means from the main drum and acts via the safety spring 38 partially to rotate bottom ring 39 whereof the edge 40' contacts lever 41 locked to shaft 36 (Fig. 5) and turns same to bring lever 35 into the path of the bits 3, so that the slide assembly is then depressed. Sliding member 42 carries a block 43 to which a link 44 is anchored. A special screw 45 having an eccentric pin 46 formed as a location for the link 44 is provided to adjust the amount. ofslackening. The top end of the link is provided with a slot to take a screw 47 in the stitch cam block 48. When the slide assembly is depressed the link draws the block 48 downwards, and as the block is attached to the'slide bar 49, as also in the stitch cam 50, the stitch cam is lowered causing the needles to draw a longer loop. The stitch cam is raised by the spring 51, Fig. 5, and the slide assembly is raised by the spring 57, Fig. (Sp-when the slackening bits have slackening bits 3 are passing below it because a stop 25, 78 passed.

To adjust the amount of slackening nut 52, .Fig. 6;. an unlocked screw 45 is turned until a gap is created between the top of the slot in the link 44 and the screw 47 in the stitch cam block 48. The-block 48, Figs. 5 and 6, will be prevented from lifting with the link 44 under the action of spring 51 by means of a screw 53 in the usual control lever 54 normally provided for stitch cam adjustment. Fig. shows the ring 55 with the abutment 56 acting on the tail of a lever 54 to adjust the stitch cam' in known manner.

An alternative construction by which only four slackening bits are required (instead 'of a number approximating to half the total of needles) is illustrated in Fig. 11. This arrangement, although entailing extra mechanism, may be preferred where frequent changes of the slackening zones and therefore frequent resetting of the bits is anticipated. Fig. 11 illustrates the alternative construction for the bottom stitch cam slackening mechanism only and shows part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10 but from a difierent view-point. A similar alternative arrangement is applicable to the stitch cam of the top cylinder. With this alternative construction two bits 3 are used to initiate the slackening and the two bits 64 are used to terminate it.

As shown in Fig. 11 the underside of the cam box flange 58 has a lever 59 secured to it by a shoulder screw 60, and a spring 61 urges the lever 59 in towards the needle cylinder. The slide carrying the abutment lever 35 is shown fully depressed (as in Fig. 8), one of the two slackening bits 3 being shown depressing the lever 33 and with it the slide 42. 0n the top face of the slide a projection 62 can be seen which normally holds the lever 59 away from the cylinder, but when the slide is depressed the projection clears the bottom of the lever and allows it to be sprung in until its follower 63 rides on the flange 29 of the needle cylinder. In this position the underside of the lever 59 rides over projection 62 thus preventing the slide (and associated stitch cam) from rising when the second slackening bit 3 leaves the top of the lever 35. When the period of slackening is required to be terminated the 'bit 64 contacts the follower 63 of the lever 59 and earns it away from the flange 29 thus releasing projection 62 of the slide 42 and allowing the stitch cam to rise by the action of spring 57. It will be noted that the bit 64 has its bottom corner removed at 65, to prevent it acting on the lever 35 (which will have automatically returned by means of the tension spring 66 to its primed position shown in Fig. 7), when the slide 42 has been released by bit 64 camming lever 59 away from the needle cylinder.

Although only one bit is actually required for initiating and one for terminating slackening a second identical bit is placed in the following trick to prevent any tendency for the trick wall to be forced over by the constant striking of the leading bit when in action.

In the application of the cam control arrangements above described to a machine having two or more feeding stations spaced apart around the needle circle the same set of bits 3 or bits 3 and 64 will co-operate with duplicate sets of the remainder of the mechanism at the ditferent feed points. The slackening actions at difierent feeds which require to be staggered in timing in order to take effect upon the same group of needles do not entail provision of relatively complex cam and lever or equivalent transmission mechanisms to ensure correct timing as accurate timing at all times is ensured by the position of the slackening bits in the tricks.

Although the improved cam control mechanism has been described by way of example as applied to actuation of stitch cams for effecting slackening it is to be understood that it may be used for actuating other cams associated with the needle bed, for example bolt cams.

What I claim is:

'1. In a circular knitting machine the combination comprising a tricked needle cylinder, a cambox .around said cylinder, needle operating means mounted in said cam box and including amovable cam, means whereby relative rotation may be caused to take place between the cylinder and cam box, at least one projection detachably mounted in a trick in said cylinder so as to project from the cylinder, means mounted on the cam box for adjusting said movable cam .and'including an abutment movable into and out of range 'of said projection and means for actuating said abutment.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the cam adjusting means comprises a carrier for said abutment mounted on the cam box and adjustable means for coupling said carrier to the movable cam permitting adjustment of the extent of cam movement.

3. A combination according to claim 1 comprising a carrier for said abutment, means mounting said carrier on the cam box to permit it to slide in a direction longitudinally of the tricks of the needle cylinder and a backing member co-operating with the said projection to resist movement thereof along the cylinder trick when engaging the said abutment.

4. A combination according to claim 3 comprising means pivoting said abutment to the carrier for its movement into and out of range of the said projection.

5. A combination according to claim 1 comprising means yieldably urging said abutment out of range of the said projection and controlling means for moving the abutment into said range when required.

6. A combination according to claim 5 comprising an operating lever secured to said abutment and an arcuate operating member formed with a notch to co-operate with the abutment lever through which arcuate member an actuating movement is applied to the abutment.

7. In a circular knitting machine the combination comprising a tricked circular needle bed formed with a circular flange projecting therefrom through which the tricks extend, a cam box co-operating with the needle bed, needle control cams mounted in said cam box and including a movable cam, and control mechanism for said movable cam comprising at least one projection detachably mounted in one of said tricks and an abutment supported by the cam box and movable into and out of range of said projection and means coupling said abutment to the movable cam.

8. A combination according to claim 7 wherein the needle bed is constituted by a needle cylinder and the said circular flange projects peripherally therefrom and forms a means for supporting the cam assembly from the cylinder.

9. In a circular knitting machine the combination comprising a circular needle bed formed with needle tricks, a cam box associated with said bed, needle operating cams mounted in said cam box, including a movable cam, mounting means for said bed and cam box permit ting relative rotation between them, and cam adjusting means associated with the movable one of said cams and including an abutment, a succession of projections in the form of bits inserted in a succession of the tricks in the needle bed, and means for moving said abutment into and out of position to engage with said projections, said cam adjusting means being organised to deflect said movable cam so long as said abutment engages with the succession of projections and to return said cam when the abutment is disengaged from the succession of projections.

10. A combination according to claim 1 having a plurality of projections in spaced tricks and having the said abutment arranged to be actuated to effect movement of the movable cam on engagement with one of said projections and to be maintained actuated until released by another of said projections.

11. A combination according to claim 10 comprising a detent lever associated with said abutment to maintain it actuated after engagement by the first projection, which r 7 detent lever is arranged to engage the subsequent projection torelease the abutment. 12 a circular knitting machine the combination comprising a circular needle bed formed with tricks therein, independent needles movable in said tricks, needle operating cams including an adjustable stitch cam, means mounting said bed and cams for relative rotation, projecting bits detachably mounted in some of said tricks to control operation of the movable cam over a chosen portion of the needle circle, adjusting means for said movable stitch cam including an abutment movable into 7 8 s and out of co-operation with said projecting bits and means 'for actuating saidv abutment to move it into cooperation with said bits whereby to cause the adjustment of the stitch cam to vary the lengthof the stitches drawn thereby over said selected'p'ortion of the needle circle.

10 2,715,327 Katterrnan Aug. 16, 1955 

